Education

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We held our first of four sessions Wednesday night (8/31) at one of our partner sites, The Thinkery Children’s Museum (thinkeryaustin.org). We had a beautiful classroom space to work in that allowed for a large table for group work, a smaller table for kids to decorate their Maker Hats, and an area on the floor with bean bags and LEGO for kids who needed a break.

The real magic came when we turned the iPads over to the parents (while kids decorated) and gave them a brief overview of how PBS Kids Scratch Jr. works. Their discoveries were palpable as they learned how to add and animate characters. And when the kids joined them, and they began to create together, there were moments where every pair were deeply engaged together, with big smiles on their faces. Comments included: “I never get 1-1 time with my child so this is really special.” “The father is normally the ‘fun parent’ but tonight I got to be ‘Fun Mom!'”

All the parents were excited to leave with a book to read with their child, information on how to download PBS Kids Scratch Jr. for their own devices and getting together again for the next session!

On Sept. 12-17, KLRU and PBS will be showcasing a week full of primetime programming which will focus on the challenges facing the American education system.

As part of KLRU’s and PBS’ commitment to education, the programs will explore the classrooms of today and explain how the amount of creativity and dedication that goes into teaching children makes a difference in schools and communities. Along with episodes from our core series such as POV, TED Talks and Frontline, the schedule will include primetime and PLUS programming, both of which are one-time specials.

Spotlight Education week in Austin is supported by Austin Community College.

Monday, September 12
9 pm – POV: All The Difference weaves together the stories of two promising young men as they navigate their lives in low-income, high-risk communities in Chicago. The 90-minute film explores the factors in their lives that made all the difference – an example of prioritizing education as a tool to secure a place in the middle class. Accompany two African-American teens from the South Side of Chicago on their journey to achieve their dream of graduating from college. Follow the young men through five years of hard work, sacrifice, setbacks and uncertainty.

10:30 pm – Arts In Context Music for All Offering free, intensive music education to low-income youth from Travis and Hays County, Austin Soundwaves believes firmly in the principle that all students deserve a world-class education in the fine arts. Determined to make a difference in the minority community of Austin at a young age, the Hispanic Alliance of Performing Arts launched Austin Soundwaves. Program director Patrick Slevin and his team have already seen a positive impact on their students’ overall academics, motivation levels, and self-esteem. For Slevin, Austin Soundwaves is the first step towards providing the world class fine arts education that all students deserve.

Tuesday, September 13
8 pm – FRONTLINE dives deep into the most pressing issues in education by updating two films.; “The Diploma Mill” and “Omarina’s Story.” “The Diploma Mill” (wt), a fresh look at the troubled for-profit college industry, examining reports of predatory behavior and fraud and the implosion of the education chain Corinthian Colleges. “Omarina’s Story” looks at how a program to stem the high school drop-out crisis has affected one girl’s journey. It chronicles how an innovative program to stem the high school drop-out crisis has affected one girl’s journey, from a public middle school in the Bronx to an elite New England private school to college. The film documents the divergent fates of two twins from the Bronx and sheds light on America’s dropout crisis and the brutal inequities in American Education.

9 pm – TED Talks: Education Revolution is hosted by writer/comedian Baratunde Thurston and actress/singer Sara Ramirez and includes short films, music, and inspiring speakers who are making a difference in our nation’s schools and universities. Explore innovative approaches to education. Speakers, including Anna Deavere Smith and Sal Khan, discus the school-to-prison pipeline, micromanaging kids and turning struggling students into scholars.

10 pm – The Address, a film by Ken Burns tells the story of a tiny school in Putney, Vermont, where the students are encouraged to memorize, practice and recite the Gettysburg Address, to unlock the history, context and importance of President Lincoln’s most powerful speech.

Wednesday, September 14
8 pm – NOVA: School of the Future, a two-hour documentary, looks at the school of the future by exploring “learning science,” a complex and interdisciplinary new field that encompasses neuroscience, physiology, and the psychology of children. In a new age of information, rapid innovation and globalization, how can we prepare our children to compete? Discover how the new science of learning can help us reimagine the future of education for all children.

Thursday, September 15
7:30 pm – Eastside Education is a KLRU production. Follow students, teachers and staff at an Austin high school under threat of closure by the state. For years Eastside Memorial High School has been plagued by failing test scores and negative headlines.An Eastside Education spends one semester at one of Austin’s lowest income schools, as teachers, parents, administrators, and students fight to meet state accountability standards or watch their school be closed.

8 pm – Time for School is an award-winning documentary project that visited seven classrooms in seven countries around the world. View an update to the documentary project that visits seven classrooms in seven countries and offers a glimpse of seven children struggling to get a basic education. The film catches up with the now adult seven to see how their lives have turned out.

Friday, September 169:30 pm – Craft in America: Teachers begins its eighth season on PBS with a unique hour that celebrates teachers: craft artists renowned for their own artistic visions, and committed to passing on their skills and passion for craft to new generations of students and artists.

Building a foundation for school success starts with the earliest days of life. Early childhood education is a major focus of PBS so we have lots of resources to share. KLRU also has deep connections with the Central Texas early childhood educational community.

If you are looking for quality early childhood programs for your child, or to help you raise your child or someone else’s, we suggest you call United Way’s 211 telephone number. They receive current information on open slots in high-quality child care programs, home visiting programs, and parent/family workshops. They can also provide information on how to get support for more basic life needs, such as:

hunger

homelessness

medical care

mental health care

vision/hearing

This tool provides ideas for building children’s readiness for Kindergarten:

Take the next step, get involved! Adults make a world of difference to a child’s educational achievement. Having adults who are both caring and consistent can help keep youth on the path to graduation. Be a mentor!

Programs that have a mentoring component:

Paid OpportunitiesAmericorps– engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. (MS/HS)Breakthrough-provides out-of-school learning and academic case management for middle school-college studentsCARY– (Council on At Risk Youth)- partners with school districts, youth service agencies, universities and juvenile justice agencies toward achievement of the objectives of prevention of youth violence, drug abuse and delinquency. (MS/HS)College Forward-builds trust, bolster motivation, and deliver personalized strategies that help each student get into and complete college. For 11th grade-college students.

Volunteer OpportunitiesACE (Architecture. Construction. Engineering)-Students in the ACE program typically work closely with their mentors on projects that provide hands-on experience in solving the types of design, engineering and construction challenges industry professionals confront every day. (HS)Austin Partners in Education– APIE mentors work one-on-one and help students improve their social and study skills, strengthen their communication skills, and build self-confidence (any grade within Austin ISD). Big Brother, Big Sister– nurture children and strengthen communities through an array of programs such as the Community Based Program, Juvenile Justice Initiative, School-to-Community Program, Military Mentoring and Program Building Our Future – The Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center. (all ages) Court Appointed Special Advocates CASA– volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. (all ages)E4 Youth– helps bridge the gap between underserved youth and creative commercial arts careers; Identify, nurture, and promote talent through training, mentoring and internships. (MS/HS)Explore Austin– combines the benefits of mentoring and outdoor adventure in a six-year program for underserved youth (6th-12th grade).ICUSP– to promote academic achievement and child well-being in central Texas by bringing together resources from the local community, the University of Texas, and local schools. (MS/HS)OutYouth– promotes the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well being of sexual and gender minority youth so that they can openly and safely explore and affirm their identities. (MS/HS)Project Males– (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success) This project connects undergraduate students from the University of Texas at Austin with Austin-area high school males. (HS)Southwest Key Programs– connects adults with youth who are involved or at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system. (10-17 yrs).VICTORY– (Volunteers In Communities Tutoring Our Responsible Youth) Offers free tutoring to students at designated branches of the Austin Public Library. Students are matched on a 1:1 basis with volunteers from the greater Austin community (1st-12th grade).YES (Youth Empowerment & Success) Mentoring-Partnerships for Children– aimed at improving youth’s self-esteem and enhancing their ability to make responsible decisions through training, mentoring and financial support. (MS/HS) Youth Advocacy– a service-minded group of people focused on intervention services and substance abuse prevention with a primary focus on children and their families in urban and low-income areas (10-14 yrs of age and reside in or go to school in 78744).

Programs with a particular focus on either boys or girls:

BoysCOBRA- (Community of Brothers in Revolutionary Alliance) is a mentoring program for high school boys (9th -12th grade).
Communities In Schools: XY-ZONE Program– supports and guides adolescent males as they journey into manhood. It is a leadership development and peer support program that develops productive life skills in high school-age, at-risk males.Project MALES– (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success) This project connects undergraduate students from the University of Texas at Austin with Austin-area high school males.100 Black Men of Austin – to improve the quality of life and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. (all ages)

Girls:Ann Richards School– an all-girls public school for the Austin Independent School District (6th-12th grade). Con Mi Madre-Young Latinas and their mothers enroll and are offered an array of services including: mother-daughter conferences, college visits, campus meetings, community service activities, counseling, and mentoring throughout the year (6th- 12th grade).GENAustin–to support and guide girls to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood (3rd-12th grade).Girl Start– Provides a year-round, intensive suite of STEM education programs (K-12 girls).Latinitas– empower Latina youth through media and technology (12-17 yrs).VOICES-(Verbally Outspoken Individuals Creating Empowered Sisters) is an academic leadership program for high school girls (9th-12th grade).

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area offers affordable/free after-school and summer programs that focus on academic success, physical health, developing community, and providing service to others (ES/MS/HS)

Breakthrough Austin finds youth in 6th grade and supports them through entrance into college (MS/HS)

CARY helping youth who have problems with discipline/attendance get back on track (MS/HS)

Financial Aid Saturdays offered by the Austin Chamber of Commerce help HS seniors and their families complete the necessary paperwork for financial assistance from the government and/or the colleges they hope to attend.

No Place for Hate curriculum and support for schools to improve student harmony and decrease prejudice and bullying (PreK-HS)

100 Black Men of Austin mentors African-American young men and offers workshops and additional resources for the whole family (MS/HS)

Project Males of the UT Division of Diversity and Community Engagement is a mentoring program for Latino males and males of color that uses its research to improve graduation rates for males of color for both high school and college (PK-college)

University Leadership Initiative is led by undocumented students at local colleges and universities. They share current information with undocumented high school students about their post-graduation options and how to prepare for college life. (HS)

YMCA offers free and low-cost programs for kids and families ages 2 and up, including preschool readiness, after-school care through 5th grade, and programs for teens. Contact your local YMCA to see what programs they offer (ages 2-adult).

If you have been hearing this as of late (or maybe since school let out), realize that letting kids remain bored for a while can actually lead to them developing their own creative solutions. If you have given that a try and a) your home is damaged as a result; or b) they really need help finding something new to do, check out this link: